Adapter unit for connecting two vacuum producing power units in tandem



Nov. 20, 1962 G. c. IWANOWSKI 3,065,001

ADAPTER UNIT FOR CONNECTING TWO VACUUM PRODUCING POWER UNITS IN TANDEM Filed Oct. 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l [mm nun INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 20, 1962 G. c. IWANOWSKI 3,065,001

ADAPTER UNIT FOR CONNECTING TWO VACUUM PRODUCING POWER UNITS IN TANDEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1959 INVENTOR 6. fwq/mwsx ATTORNEY E $655,001 Patented Nov. 20, 1962 ice ADAPTER UNIT FOR CONNECTING TWO VACU- UM PRGDUCING POWER UNITS IN TANDEM Gerald C. Iwanowski, 627 Brookrnont Ave. 13.,

Jacksonville, Fla.

Filed Oct. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 847,271

1 Claim. (Cl. 285177) This invention relates to an adapter unit, and has as its primary object the. provision of an adapter for the purpose of connecting two power. units in tandem whereby to multiply the power of an individual unit.

An important object of the invention is the provision of an adapter of this character which may be interposed between two vacuum cleaner power units, for example, in order to amplify the suction produced.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device which may be readily applied to one or more pumps or the like for the purpose of amplifying the lift of the pump.

An additional object is the provision of an adapter characterized by means whereby more than one adapter may be employed so that multiple power units, such as vacuum cleaner power units may be connected in tandem for additional multiplication of effect.

A further object of the invention is the provision of of such a device which may be readily adapted to a multiplicity of purposes and uses wherein it is desired to connect two or more power units in tandem.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflicient in operation, and relatively simple to manufacture, assemble and utilize, and which may be readily modified to a variety of situations and usages.

Still another object of the invention resides in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a pair of units connected in tandem by means of the adapter of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal fragmentary sectional view of the adapter unit, per se;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the adapter unit; and

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the adapter unit, per

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is generally indicated at a power unit, illustratively the power unit of a vacuum cleaner, which is provided with a collection receptacle 11 and a suction inlet 12, the receptacle being secured thereto by means of conventional fastenings 13. A second, substantially identical vacuum cleaner power unit is indicated at 10a, and this unit is provided prefer-ably with a cover 14, which may be removed for a purpose to be specified hereinafter.

The two units are adapted to be connected together by the adapter of the instant invention, which is generally indicated at 15. A second similar adapter unit may be substituted for the cover 14 of the upper unit 10a, in order that a still further power unit may be connected in tandem if desired.

The adapter unit 15 is basically comprised of a skirtlike member 16, provided with a bottom protective gasket l7, which is adapted to seat on the top of one of the power units. A central duct 18 has a radially extending horizontal flange 18a, from the rim of which depends an integral offset vertical flange 19, concentric with duct 18, and defining an opening at the bottom thereof provided with keyhole slots 20, which are adapted for engagement with the normal projections 27 at the perimeter of the outlet 28 of any one. of the units 10. These projections normally serve as connections for an outlet hose or the like, but when taken in conjunction with the keyhole slots 26 serve securely to connect the duct 18 to the outlet of one unit 10. A sealing gasket 21 insures an effective seal.

The second unit 10a is adapted to seat within an interior annulus 22 which has a bottom wall 23 with an upwardly and outwardly projecting ring 24 surrounding the flared upper rim 25 of duct 18. Asealing gasket of generally L-shaped cross-section, is indicated at 26, and is adapted to receive the bottom of the unit 10a in sealing engagement, so that the inlet at the bottom of the unit 10a may amplify the suction of the first unit as passed through the duct 18.

The annulus 22 has an outwardly flared annular rim portion 30, which terminates in an upwardly flaring rim 31, which has a top sealing gasket 32 which is adapted to tightly engage about the lower periphery of the upper unit 10a to hold the same in tightly sealed relation. Spacers 33 are adapted to be marginally positioned about the annular rim portion 30, and contains screws 34, which are provided with nuts 35, the latter being adapted to engage the flange 36 at the bottom of the top unit 10a for securing the same thereto. A series of exhaust openings 37 extend about the annular rim portion 30 to provide exhaust space for excess air from the intake duct 18. By virtue of this arrangement it will be seen that any suitable number of vacuum cleaner power units, or analogous devices, may readily be connected in tandem, in such manner that their individual eifect is multiplied in accordance with the number of units so provided.

It will be understood that the term vacuum cleaner power unit as used herein means a casing having therein an electric motor providing suction type power such as, for example, the commonly known and existing cannister of air tank type devices used as vacuum cleaners for cleaning rugs, etc. for household purposes.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved adapter unit, which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore shown and described is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

An adapter unit 15 for connecting two vacuum producing power units 10, 10a together in vertical tandem relation, comprising an outer vertical skirt like member 16, a vertical central duct 18 disposed concentrically within said skirt-like member 16 in spaced relation thereto, said duct 18 having an annular horizontal flared rim 25 about its upper end, said duct 18 terminating below the upper end of said skirt-like member 16, said duct 18 having a radially extending horizontal flange 18a, an integral oflset vertical flange 19 depending from the rim of said horizontal flange 18a concentric with said duct 18, means, including keyhole slots 20 adapted for detachable engagement of said flange 19 with projections 27 on the outlet tube of a lower power unit 10, an

interior annulus 22 disposed concentrically Within said skirt-like member 16 in spaced relation thereto, said annulus 22 including a laterally extending bottom wall 23 with an upwardly and outwardly extending ring 24 surrounding said flared rim 25, means fixedly securing said bottom wall 23 to said rim 25, said annulus 22 having an outwardly flared annular rim portion 30, and an upwardly flared arcuate outer rim 31 integral with said annuluar rim portion 30, a sealing gasket 32 surrounding said arcuate outer rim 31 adapted tightly to engage the lower periphery of the upper power unit 10a, said annular rim portion having a series of exhaust openings 37 therein, a second sealing gasket of substantially L- shaped cross section 26 positioned about the juncture of said interior annulus 22 and said bottom wall 23 adapted for the reception of the bottom of the upper unit 10a whereby to amplify the suction of the lower unit 10 as passed through said central duct 18, means fixedly connecting said annular rim portion 30 to the top of said skirt-like member 16, spacers 33 marginally positioned about said annular rim portion 30, screws 34 extending through said spacers 33, adapted to engage a bottom flange 36 of the upper unit 10a, nuts 35 on said bolts whereby to secure said upper unit 10a to said adapter 15 in sealed relation, and an additional sealing gasket 21 interiorly of said outwardly flared concentric flange 19 adapted sealingly to engage the outlet 28 of said lower unit 10 with said adapter 15.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,429,822 Acer Sept. 19, 1922 1,457,637 Sievers June 5, 1923 2,254,611 Lofgren Sept. 2, 1941 2,382,348 Taylor Aug. 14, 1945 2,444,892 Kelly July 6, 1948 2,739,317 Abresch Mar. 27, 1956 2,744,585 Kelly May 8, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,166,490 France June 23, 1958 P L w 

